Callahan's first choice: stay with the New York Rangers

Ryan Callahan has been wearing a New York Rangers uniform since 2006-07 and is in his third season as their captain.(Photo: Eric Hartline USA TODAY Sports)

Ryan Callahan would rather remain a member of the New York Rangers instead of accepting the very certain alternative: enduring a trade this week and then venturing into the free-agent marketplace in July.

That's why his agent, Steve Bartlett of Pittsford-based Sports Consulting Group, has altered contract demands for the Greece native during ongoing negotiations with the Rangers.

"We're going to put on one last push over the next 48 hours," Bartlett said this morning. "We're still trying to find common ground."

The Rangers have said they will trade their captain if they can't sign him to a new contract -- one that meets their budget, not his salary request.

The NHL trade deadline is 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Callahan, 28, initially was asking for a seven-year contract at a reported $7 million per season. The numbers -- and contract length -- have now changed. It's six years for something believed to be in the neighborhood of $37 million to $39 million total money. ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reported the average per-year demand is a little under $6.5 million.

The Rangers are the only organization Callahan has known since he turned pro in the 2006-07 season. They drafted him (fourth round, 127th overall), signed him and have had him in their lineup on a permanent basis since the 2007-08 season.

And he has worn the captain's "C" on the front of his No. 24 sweater since the 2011-12 season began.

That's why he wants to continue to call Madison Square Garden home.

"His first desire is to stay," Bartlett said. "There are friendships and loyalties."

There also is the uncertainty of a future somewhere else. "If it's the only organization you know, there's fear of the unkonwn," Bartlett said. "Gio (fellow Greece native Brian Gionta) went through it and it all worked out fine."

Gionta was drafted by New Jersey and played the first eight seasons of his pro career in the Devils organization before signing as a free agent with the Montreal Canadiens in July of 2009. He has been the Canadiens captain since Sept. 29, 2010.

Gionta wanted to stay in New Jersey but the Devils couldn't make the contract work. That could happen with Callahan, though the Rangers have shown they can negotiate. On Friday they avoided the trade dilemma with defenseman Dan Girardi by agreeing to a six-year, $33 million deal. That's reportedly about what Girardi was seeking.

Because Girardi was given six years, Bartlett said Callahan "would probably have to take six."

Callahan has scored 11 goals, 14 assists and 25 points in 45 games this season (16 penalty minutes). In his career, he has 132-122-254 in 450 games (268 penalty minutes). He has won the team's Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award four times: 2008-09, '09-10, '11-12 and '12-13.

But what if the Rangers won't meet Callahan's requests? "I have no worries of his value if he goes on the market this summer," Bartlett said.